This Cavaliers loss reminisced of the 2009 Game 1 defeat to the Orlando Magic or the 2010 Game 6 loss to the Boston Celtics. Is this Cavs team doomed to repeat the mistakes of Cavaliers past?
Let’s start with the obvious. Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is losing the series for the Cavs. There’s no ifs, ands or buts around it.
Lue’s rotations have been borderline nonsensical. His messaging has been wildly inconsistent. And the Cleveland Cavaliers’ players are struggling because of it.
With that being said, this Cavs team is better than the Pacers. They are more talented as basically every position and if they aren’t more talented, they have more experience. The Cavs’ bench is deeper, and the Cavs likely will win this series.
Where are they headed?
The Cleveland Cavaliers will not beat the Toronto Raptors over seven games playing like this. Similarly, the East might be a little different from we anticipated as I write this both the Raptors and Celtics are down by 20.
Who knows what the Eastern Conference playoffs will bring but it doesn’t look like the Cavs are going to get through with what they are doing.
What can they do?
Here’s some 48 minute statistics for you:
Jeff Green-playoffs: 6.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists on 18.7% shooting.
Jeff Green-regular season: 22.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists on 47.7% shooting.
Jordan Clarkson-playoffs: 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists on 28.5% shooting.
Jordan Clarkson-regular: 28.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists on 45.1% shooting.
Kyle Korver-playoffs: 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists on 28.6% shooting.
Kyle Korver-regular: 20.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2.7 assists on 45.9% shooting.
Rodney Hood-playoffs: 16.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists on 47.6% shooting.
Rodney Hood-regular: 26.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists on 42.9% shooting.
Is this a joke? Three games in and Cavs role players look like end of the bench players on non-playoff teams. The only person that’s even close to his productivity is Rodney Hood but if you’ve watched the three games, he’s not playing that well. All these players are receiving heavy minutes, and none of them are doing anything worthwhile. It’s a small sample size, but these four players must step up if the Cavs expect to do any damage in the playoffs.
Who’s going to step up?
Kyle Korver is playing in his 12th season in the playoffs (lucky man!). Korver has never averaged more than thirteen points a game in the playoffs and he likely will not be the guy who produces the spark the Cavaliers need.
Jordan Clarkson has not played in the playoffs, so he’s a wildcard. Jeff Green is playing in his sixth playoffs and he’s probably the biggest maybe here. In 2012-2013, Green averaged over twenty points per game for the Celtics.
He’s averaged over ten for both the Thunder and Clippers. Green is capable but he is not a reliable, volume scorer. So, what about Hood? He only averaged nine points on terrible shooting last year for the Jazz. So if not these four fine young gentlemen, who’s the answer?
The Cavs won the championship in 2016 on the backs of Tristan Thompson and JR Smith.
J.R. Smith isn’t playing great but he can with the right motivation. Tristan Thompson isn’t in the rotation but there’s work he can do that no one else on the Cavaliers can.
JR is an emotional guy, and Lue (culprit) has not done what he needs to do to maximize Smith, who, when engaged, is an elite shooter, creative playmaker and plus defender. Similarly, instead of putting Thompson in a position to succeed and using he and Larry Nance Jr. as complementary pieces, Thompson has seen no time in these playoffs and his time waned off since he came back from injury.
Yes, Nance is a better version of Thompson now but the Cavaliers are getting killed on the offensive boards and with Jeff Green and Kevin Love’s perimeter defense. At least Thompson can switch onto a point guard in a pick-and-roll.
Will Lue adjust? Or is it too late?
I believe that LeBron will carry the torch to a Game 4 win, which the Cavaliers will follow to a Game 5 win at home. Game 6 will be the trust test to see if this version of the Cleveland Cavaliers can win a tough road game against a young, athletic, and hungry team.
Will Lue make the right choices and will his players stand behind him?
It’s playoff basketball, more than anything, this is where the coach’s choices and influence has the greatest impact. As much as we believe the LeBron can coach this team, he cannot be effective on the floor without external guidance from the bench.
It’s will be a wild 2018 playoffs, that’s for sure.
Related Story: Rodney Hood needs to be a primary scorer for Cavs